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Author Topic: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)  (Read 14406 times)

Offline roadie

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Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« on: December 04, 2011, 10:51:10 AM »
Can someone explain to me the rippling affect along the center line of my rear tire?  I'm wearing PR3, and there appears, along the center threads (guess about 2.5" wide), a rippling of evenly spaced "bumps" all the way around.  Is this what I sometimes see referred to as "cupping?"
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Will

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2011, 11:07:34 AM »
That does sound like cupping, I only have about 1000 miles on my PR3 and it still looks new.

Don't hear many complaints about these tires cupping. How many miles on your PR3?
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Offline coastalconnie

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2011, 11:12:07 AM »
Odd that you'd get a "cupping" wear pattern on the rear tire. I would usually get this on a front tire but my PR3's are wearing what I'd call normal. Can you post a pic of what you're referring to?
« Last Edit: December 04, 2011, 02:02:22 PM by coastalconnie »
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Offline roadie

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2011, 11:46:31 AM »
Quote from: Excavator on December 04, 2011, 11:07:34 AM
That does sound like cupping, I only have about 1000 miles on my PR3 and it still looks new.

Don't hear many complaints about these tires cupping. How many miles on your PR3?

about 11,000 miles. I'll go snap a pic.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2011, 08:20:04 AM by Roadie »
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Will

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2011, 11:51:06 AM »
I will be very happy if I get 11,000 miles out of mine. Still want to see the cupping on yours.
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Offline roadie

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2011, 12:04:41 PM »
Pics:



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Will

Offline C1xRider

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2011, 12:25:47 PM »
11,000 miles, or 1,100 miles?  I can't believe you would have that much tread left after 11,000 miles!

As for cupping, it is most noticeable on either side of the rain grooves, typically midway between the center of the tire and the edge (30 to 60 degrees off of center).  Cupping is when the trailing edge of one block of rubber is noticeably higher than the leading edge of the next rubber block, at least that's my understanding of it.

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but I'm not sure what you have going on there.  Doesn't look like any cupping I've ever seen.  Do you feel any vibrations at speed?
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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2011, 12:41:00 PM »
Belt separation?  Don't look like cupping.

The tread looks deep for 11,000 miles.
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Offline roadie

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #8 on: December 04, 2011, 12:46:38 PM »
Quote from: C1xRider on December 04, 2011, 12:25:47 PM
11,000 miles, or 1,100 miles?  I can't believe you would have that much tread left after 11,000 miles!

As for cupping, it is most noticeable on either side of the rain grooves, typically midway between the center of the tire and the edge (30 to 60 degrees off of center).  Cupping is when the trailing edge of one block of rubber is noticeably higher than the leading edge of the next rubber block, at least that's my understanding of it.

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but I'm not sure what you have going on there.  Doesn't look like any cupping I've ever seen.  Do you feel any vibrations at speed?


definitely 11,000, mostly straight line commuting...nuttin fancy.  no vibration, feels just fine. dunno...
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Will

Offline wally_games

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #9 on: December 04, 2011, 12:51:48 PM »
Quote from: Roadie on December 04, 2011, 12:46:38 PM
definitely 11,000, mostly straight line commuting...nuttin fancy.  no vibration, feels just fine. dunno...

There must be something wrong with your bike's throttle linkage. I can't imagine that much thread on a rear tire after 11,000 miles!  :o
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Offline ZG

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2011, 01:45:07 PM »
11k miles?  :o
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Offline roadie

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #11 on: December 04, 2011, 01:48:43 PM »
Quote from: ZG on December 04, 2011, 01:45:07 PM
11k miles?  :o

Put um on at about 4k, at 14600 now.
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Will

Offline B.D.F.

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #12 on: December 04, 2011, 02:25:02 PM »
Not really cupping, more like scalloping caused by the tire's tread. Totally normal and there is no way to avoid that I know of other than eliminating the tread cuts (a smooth or 'slick' tire). Cupping is a random pattern, not tied into the tread pattern.

Some people take a rasp or a Surfoam to the tire to knock down those bumps; it is a little risky 'cause you have to have the bike running and in gear on the centerstand while you grind away at the rear tire.  :o  Another way to take down those high spots is to use a tire balancer to mount the tire (and wheel), and then a hand grinder to both grind and spin the tire. Sort of like a poor man's lathe.

By the way, girlie- men use the file in first gear while <real> men try fourth or fifth.  :o :o  The truly tough folks get someone else to ride the bike while they hang off the luggage rack and whittle away....

Usually the wear pattern you seem to have (tread block feathering is what it really is) does not cause any difficulty and is not even something you can feel when riding.

Brian

Quote from: Roadie on December 04, 2011, 10:51:10 AM
Can someone explain to me the rippling affect along the center line of my rear tire?  I'm wearing PR3, and there appears, along the center threads (guess about 2.5" wide), a rippling of evenly spaced "bumps" all the way around.  Is this what I sometimes see referred to as "cupping?"
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Offline C1xRider

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #13 on: December 04, 2011, 04:46:52 PM »
Quote from: B.D.F. on December 04, 2011, 02:25:02 PM
Not really cupping, more like scalloping caused by the tire's tread. Totally normal and there is no way to avoid that I know of other than eliminating the tread cuts (a smooth or 'slick' tire). Cupping is a random pattern, not tied into the tread pattern.

Some people take a rasp or a Surfoam to the tire to knock down those bumps; it is a little risky 'cause you have to have the bike running and in gear on the centerstand while you grind away at the rear tire.  :o  Another way to take down those high spots is to use a tire balancer to mount the tire (and wheel), and then a hand grinder to both grind and spin the tire. Sort of like a poor man's lathe.

By the way, girlie- men use the file in first gear while <real> men try fourth or fifth.  :o :o  The truly tough folks get someone else to ride the bike while they hang off the luggage rack and whittle away....

Usually the wear pattern you seem to have (tread block feathering is what it really is) does not cause any difficulty and is not even something you can feel when riding.

Brian

SCALLOPING!  I forgot about Scalloping...   :o

As for the cure, all those methods BDF suggested sound like work.  Just put the front tire against a solid object, rev the engine really high, dump the clutch in low gear, and wait for a cloud of smoke.  Then stop and check the tire to see if it's round again.   ;)   If not, repeat.   :)
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Offline roadie

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #14 on: December 04, 2011, 05:33:35 PM »
haha, too much...thx all...so won't be testing out my tire changing skills just yet.
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Will

Offline cablebandit

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #15 on: December 05, 2011, 06:52:47 AM »
Lean left or right once in a while.  You'll actually wear down the sides and the center will then have a raised ridge.  11,000 miles out of a tire with soft sides is nuts.  Might as well mount a car tire back there.  :)
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Offline gPink

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #16 on: December 05, 2011, 06:57:33 AM »
Can we do that?
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Offline Scaffolder

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #17 on: December 05, 2011, 06:58:59 AM »
After 13,000-15,000 they start to look like a car tire.
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Joel from Maine.

Offline roadie

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #18 on: December 05, 2011, 07:09:08 AM »
Quote from: cablebandit on December 05, 2011, 06:52:47 AM
Lean left or right once in a while.  You'll actually wear down the sides and the center will then have a raised ridge.  11,000 miles out of a tire with soft sides is nuts.  Might as well mount a car tire back there.  :)

its the bane of straight line riding to work down 66 every day :-)...when we do all finally meet at a rally, I'll be bringing up the rear, no doubt.
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Will

Offline Jeremy Mitchell

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Re: Understanding rear tire wear (PR3)
« Reply #19 on: December 05, 2011, 07:51:30 AM »
Quote from: Roadie on December 05, 2011, 07:09:08 AM
its the bane of straight line riding to work down 66 every day :-)...when we do all finally meet at a rally, I'll be bringing up the rear, no doubt.

You can buy the first round of frosty beverages at the meet since you rarely have to buy tires.   ;D

I can't believe you have 11,000 on that tire!  I am doing great if I can get 5,000 and I am elated if I get 6,000.
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